Introduction

Hey, good morning, church family! Isn't it just a beautiful day? I'm really excited to be here with you all today, and I can't wait to share what's been on my heart lately.

I've been spending a lot of time in the Word, specifically in Matthew 25:1-13. It's a passage that's been speaking to me in a really significant way, and I think it's got something to say to us as a church, too.

Let's read it together, shall we? "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.'"

Embracing Readiness

In the parable we just read, we see two distinct groups of virgins. The first group, the foolish ones, took their lamps but didn't bring any extra oil. The second group, the wise ones, brought not only their lamps but also flasks of oil. This difference in preparation made all the difference when the bridegroom was delayed. The wise virgins were ready; they had embraced readiness.

Embracing readiness in our own lives. Now, let's think about what it means to embrace readiness in our own lives. We're not waiting for a bridegroom, but we are waiting for Jesus. And just like the virgins in the parable, we don't know when He will return. But we do know that He will return, and we need to be ready.

Being ready means being prepared. It means living our lives in a way that reflects our faith and our belief in Jesus. It means living in a way that shows we are expecting His return, not simply just saying we believe.

Living out our faith. This brings us to our first aspect of embracing readiness: living out our faith. Living out our faith is more than just going to church on Sundays or praying before meals. We must be making our faith a part of every aspect of our lives by letting our faith guide our decisions, our actions, and our interactions with others. This looks like showing the love of Jesus to everyone we meet.

Staying vigilant. In the parable, the foolish virgins fell asleep and were not ready when the bridegroom arrived. We need to stay vigilant in our faith, always watching and waiting for Jesus' return. This doesn't mean we should live in fear or anxiety; rather, it means we should live with anticipation and hope.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit. In the parable, oil can be seen as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The wise virgins had plenty of oil; they were filled with the Holy Spirit. We too need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to guide us, strengthen us, and help us in our walk with Jesus.

Sharing the gospel. The foolish virgins asked the wise ones to share their oil, but the wise virgins refused. They knew that their oil was not something that could be shared; each person needed to have their own. In the same way, our faith is not something that can be borrowed from someone else. Each person needs to have their own relationship with Jesus. But while we can't share our faith in the sense of giving it to someone else, we can and should share the gospel with others. We should tell others about Jesus and the hope that we have in Him.

Rewards Await the Prepared

As we move forward, let's consider the five wise virgins that were prepared ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO